Crystal River current., 1887-06-11

|
wife's reputation, had dreaded the
matter being discussed by unnecessary
tongues. The separation was purely a
personal affair, and was being settled
by the family solicitors without any
further appeal to the law.
| There were only two other passen-
gers in his compartment, and to arouse
himself from his gloomy abstraction.
he began listening to their converse
ton. They were both young. rather
sporting-looking men. and one had
evidently been describing to the other
the personal appearance of some I'm
known lady.
"She is thorough little beauty, l
tell you, and L Eatter myself L m a good
| Judge" was his enthusiastic conclusion.
shouldn't mind travelling up to town
| with her myself"
"Why don't you, them" came In
answer.
The first speaker laughed. II daren't,
my boy. She has Il gorgon of a maid
| with her, who is evcn more frecz ng
than this beastly weather. Tell you
wl2t though; ut the next station I'll
try ~e,Get her some tea or something,
and that II pave the way to ii chat"
Challoner frowned involuntarily.
Such talk was peculiarly distasteful to
him; and for the first time il struck
him that for the future his Madge
would he open to any and every chance
insult which men such us his fellow
travellers might choose to put upon
her. The very thought OF it made his
blood boil. Madge was so pretty, so
young, and in many ways SO thought
less, that even more than another. she
might be made to feel her unprotected
state; and whatever might happen he
himself would be powerless to shield
her lie became so absorbed in this
new thought that lie hardly noticed
when the creeping train came to Il
stand-stlI; and It was only when Il
sudden blast of cold air made it appar-
ent that his companions had thrown
down the window and were leaning
out that he reused himself to inquire
the cause. He was putting his head
out of the window to look about him,
when the guard came along the foot
board. feeling his way laboriously in
the binding snow, and shouting ut the
top of his voice that all passengers
were to descend.
Instantly all was in confusion. Cries
of WhyP" whats the matter?"
Are we in dangcr?' and .'Guard!
ouardn resoundcd on ail dies. I'M
mediatclv The Younger of his compan-
ions ulfaStened the door and cjacula-
ting. Now for that pretty "lrl!' jump
ed out: while the other more slowly col
lected his wraps, and observed that
he supposed the snow had been too
much Tor the engine.
This, indeed, proved to be the case;
and after some pardon:ble grumbiing.
Z l..,1 1.,, -
lowed in the track OF those who were
picking their way towards Il roads de
station mt some forty yards distance
As he did so. he caught She rough, per-
suasive tones OF his late com panion:
Really. now, YOU had better take my
arm; we shall get on lirstratc.'
The door of Il first-class carr age was
swinging open, and standing before II
so directly in his path that Challoner
almost tell over hm-was the young
gentleman who had Wanted his apprc-
cation Of feminine beauty. Naturally,
Challoncr's glance followed his; and
although he could not distinguish the
lady's, he was becoming dimly con-
scioHs thai the brown velvet coat was
strangely familiar, when she spoke Il
few words in II tone which sent the
blood cour>ing through his veins:
"Ihank YOU. will not trouble you:
my maid is with me-.
Madge's voice! Chaloner dropped
his rugs. scrambled up on to the foot
board, and held out his arms. Come
down at once he erica authoritative
~. 1T may not be safe for you to stay
there. Jump, and III catch you. MAY
trouble YOU to get out of the way, siro
This Aaiy is my Wifi"
Madgc flung herself instantly into
the ouistretched arms. and burst into
historical sobbine. 80 John, John. |
have been so cold and so frightened
And the ght in our carriage went out.
and | thought something might hap
pen to the train and hurt you. ;"
why. Madgen
Never before had Challoner seen his
wife so thoroughly mnhinged and
frightened. and his heart gave great
leap as he echoed her last words: .'Hurt
me- OF course not. But how came
you to lie travelling to town? Why
didn't you st;,r in Ell nburgh? Do you
think YOU have taken cold?" He asked
the questions all in one breath; but
when she began expla ming that she
wanted to spend Christmas in town
with her aunt, he hastily cut her short
There is no time to talk; we must
get on to the station. Parker (this to
the maid). follow me closely, and try
| to walk in my footsteps. l shall car
~ your mistress; the snow is too deep
! for her.
| While speaking he took the tremb-
ling z RI in his arms. and began slow
! ~ plodding along in the direction the
| guard had indicated. OF course it was
only Il chancc meeting, and Challoner
/ was too free from superstition to look
on it as anything else; but even while
he was reminding himself that it was
II terrible pity they had met-that
their tempers were wholly incompati-
| ble--and that it would be misery to,
live again through the last few months,
he was still holding the girl very close